Tape applicator-dispenser frame blank



Nov. 14, 1961 J. L. WALSH TAPE APPLICATOR-DISPENSER FRAME BLANK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 7, 1960 INVENTOR Jamv 1. W41 J/f ATTORNEY Nov. 14, 1961 J. L. WALSH TAPE APPLICATOR-DISPENSER FRAME BLANK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 7, 1960 INVNTOR c/W/A/ A. M4166 United States Patent 3,008,619 TAPE APPLICATOR-DISPENSER FRAME BLANK John L. Walsh, Hyattsville, Md. Filed Mar. 7, 1960, Ser. No. 13,114 14 Claims. (Cl. 225-66) This invention relates to improvements in simple tape applicator-dispenser means of the type disclosed in my copending application S.N. 7,286, filed February 8, 1960, and the process of making the same.

The object is to construct an adhesive tape applicator dispenser substantially of a one piece blank of stiff sheet material, such as metal, by folding the two end portions normally to the intermediate strip portion of the blank to form the frame of the device having two side walls connected by said strip, said side walls being adapted to rotatably hold a roll of adhesive tape between them, and said strip having an extended tongue portion which may be suitably formed into a resilient applicator and cutter means having tape holding and guiding means for preventing accidental withdrawal of the free end of the tape inside the frame between applications, and for facilitating initial passing of the free end of said tape from the tape roll, through said holding means to the outside of the frame.

A further object is to reinforce said frame by beading around the edges of the side-walls and by grooving or crimping the sheet material acrosssaid strip and around the folded corners, as well as by stamping inwardly eX-. tending bearing flanges from the opposite side walls to support the tape roll rotatably therebetween.

A further object is to form a tape cutter edge at the lower end of a flap cut out of the base portion of said tongue.

A further object is to form a tape cutter edge at the outer end of said tongue in front of the applicator portion of said tongue.

A further object is to use said strip portion as the front of said frame, said tongue extending downwardly therefrom.

A further object is to use said strip portion as the bottom of said frame, said tongue extending forwardly to form the applicator and cutter edge.

A further object is to cut the mid strip of the tongue extension to form the tape enter at its lower end, and twist the side strips 90 and bend them inwardly of the frame to form resilient arms with bearings for an applicator roller, back of said cutter, biasing said roller against tape holding guide edges at the bottom of the frame back of said roller.

Other and more specific objects will appear in the following detailed description of several modifications of the present invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank used in making one form of applicator-dispenser in accordance with the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the applicator-dispenser, one side wall being shown in section,

FIG. 3 is a portion of a blank showing a modification of the tongue extension,

FIG. 4 is an axial sectional view in elevation of the applicator portion of a device formed from this modified blank,

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of said portion,

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing a similar applicator shape although it is formed by reversing the base end of said applicator shape,

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing another modification of the blank portion,

FIG. 8 shows how the applicator is shaped in this modi fication,

FIG. 9 is another modification of the blank portion,

FIG. 10 is an axial sectional view of the applicator made from this modification,

FIGS. 11 and 12 are similar views of another modification and corresponding applicator,

FIG. 13 is an applicator made from a similar but modified tongue extension, wherein the flap in the tongue is cut as shown in dash lines in FIG. 11,

FIG. 14 is a sectional detail view taken along the line 14-14- in FIG. 13 to show how the tape is freed from contact with the holding guide ears during applicator operation, and

FIGS. 15 and 16 show a modification using a roller applicator normally biasing the tape down against guide edges extending from the bottom edges of the side walls, back of the roller.

The present device is a simple one piece blank 20, of reasonably stilf sheet material, such as thin gauge metal, having limited resiliency. It may be cut or stamped in the form shown, its end portions 22 and 24 being shaped to form the opposite side walls of the frame when folded at right angles to the mid strip 26 along the dotted lines 28 and 30. The mid strip forms the front wall of the frame, and the tongue extension 32 is bent into the shape indicated by the dash line 34 between the side walls 22 and 24, its lower portion extending below the bottom of said side walls to form the applicator pressure surface and its end extends forward of the front wall of the frame to provide a cutter edge 36 for cutting the tape at the end of an applied length of the tape by tilting the device forward to bring the cutter edge to the tape.

The edges around the side walls and top of the front wall may be finished by beading 38, which also serves as a reenforcement in addition to that provided by the bearing flanges 40 pressed inwardly around the openings 42 for rotatably supporting the core of a tape roll indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 2.

The frame may be further reenforced by crimping grooves 44 pressed across the mid strip 26 and extending around the folded corners of the front wall of the frame. The end portion of the tongue extension may be slightly widened at 45 to provide beaded edges for the lower portion of the applicator, so as. to confine bending to the upper port-ion when pressure is applied over the tape during operation of the applicator to release the sticky side of the tape from the holding guide edges 46 on the front of the cars 48 folded inwardly from the bottom of the side walls. at the rear of the applicator surface, under which the tape is dispensed. The upward movement of the applicator surface is limited by the inwardly bent stop cars 50, normally slightly spaced above the lower portion of the applicator. The resiliency of the upper portion of the applicator may be considerably increased, if desired, by cutting away any amount of the sheet in that portion of the tongue, before the applicator is formed, as shown by the dash line 52 in FIG. 1.

The applicator tongue 54 in FIG. 3 has a flap 56 out in it with a cutting edge 57 at the bot-tom, which may be bent forwardly in front of the front wall, the strips 58 thus providing a more resilient upper portion '60 of the applicator, the lower portion 66 being stiffer. The rear part of this lower portion normally rests against the front edges 62 of inturned ears 64 at the bottom of the side walls, to hold the sticky side of the tape on said edges. As soon as operating pressure is applied over an applied strip of the tape, the lower portion immediately rises Off these edges to free the tape therefrom and permit its dispensing during the application operation without restraint. The upward movement of the lower portion 66, however, is limited either by the stop ears 68 as shown in dotted lines or by the external ears 70 on the end of the tongue 54- extending under the corner of the side walls.

A similarly shaped lower portion 66 is shown in FIG. 6, but the upper portion 72 of the applicator is substantially vertical instead of substantially horizontal, and is connected to the forward end of the lower portion instead of the rear end. Internally extending stop cars 74- are shown. The reaction to application of operating pressure is substantially the same as before.

A further modification, as shown in FIG. 8, has the same construction except that instead of using the holding guide edges at the bottom of the side walls, the guide ears are eliminated and the rear end of the lower portion 76 has a reversely curved extension 78 which has a cut out flap 8%) turned inwardly of the extension curvature to normally depress the film 82 passing through said flap cut out to the applicator surface. When tension is applied to the tape this curvature is reduced at the weak point 79 and the flap 80 is spread away from the line of the tape to free it for dispensation during applicator operation. Guide ears, such as 8-1, may be used if necessary.

One of the simplest of the modifications illustrated is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, wherein the tongue extension 82 is a simple rectangular prolongation of the same width as the front wall or mid strip 84- and is provided with a cutter edge 86 at the bottom. The tongue is bent into a hook form as seen in full lines in FIG. 10, its cutter 86 end is turned forwardly in front of the applicator portion 88 at any angle desired. The rear side of this applicator portion is lightly sprung against the holding guide edges 90 to hold and guide the tape 92 therebetween, and release it for free dispensing only upon applying pressure over the tape and drawing the dispenser backwardly. The stop ears 9 4 when bent inwardly form a stop to limit the movement of the applicator portion in a suitable range.

A modification in which the mid strip 96 fonns the bottom of the dispenser, is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.. The tongue 98 extends forwardly therefrom and may be bent as shown, with a flap 100 cut from it and bent upwardly. The tape -2 is passed down from the roll over the back of this flap through the cut out, and under the applicator face 104, which is normally lightly sprung against the edges of the guide ears 10 6 as shown. The forward end of the tongue is curved upwardly and then forwardly to form the cutter 110. Flaps 112 are bent, as shown, to form limit stops for the rise of the applicator portion 113 when pressure is applied in operation, and the tape is released off the guide ears 1% to provide free dispensing.

Instead of the holding guide ears 1%- extending from the base of the side walls, they may be extending from the sides of the cutout portion at the sides of the fiap near its base portion which is correspondingly reduced as shown in dashed lines at 114 in FIG. 11. Sections of this modification are shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the solid lines showing the relation of parts in normal positions, and the dotted lines showing their relations releasing the tape 11 6 for free passage to the taping surface during application of operating pressure over the tape.

A form using a roller 118 is shown in FIGS. and 16. This roller is rotatably mounted in the ends of a pair of arms 120 cut from the sides of the tongue 122. and twisted through 90 at their bases and bent backwardly from the front strip 124 to resiliently hold the roller down, so that its rear bottom surface rests lightly against the holding guide edges 126 of the flaps or cars 128, thus sticking the tape 136 to these edges, except when applying pressure to the dispenser during operation, when the tape is released and is freely dispensed. The outer ends of the roller shaft 132 pass through guide openings 134 in the side walls 136 and 138 to limit the upward movement of the roller 118.

Many obvious modifications in the form and arrangement of parts of the constructions illustrated may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A tape dispenser and applicator formed from a blank of sheet material having a mid strip with end flaps extending from opposite sides thereof and adapted to fold along said sides to form a pair of opposite side walls normal to said mid strip, said side walls having bearing flanges pressed therefrom to extend inwardly for rotatably supporting a roll of tape thereon, said mid strip having an extension tongue adapted to form a smooth tape applicator surface extending convexly below the bottom of said side walls, ears extending inwardly from the bottom edges of said walls, the rear end of said tape applicator surface being biased downwardly against said ears for resiliently holding the cut end of a roll of tape therebetween, the adhesive side of the tape normally resting on said ears when not in use, said tape being raised off said ears when application pressure is applied so as to release the tape for unrestricted dispensing thereof during application of any length of tape by drawing back on the dispenser and applicator, and a cutter blade formed by a portion of said tongue in front of said applicator surface for cutting the tape at the end of an applied strip by tilting the dispenser and applicator forward to relieve the applied pressure on the applicator surface and then twisting it to the rear to cut the tape at the desired point.

2. A tape dispenser and applicator as defined in claim 1, said ears being disposed to guide said cut end so as to extend it outwardly under said applicator surface in position to facilitate proper placing of said end when starting a new strip application.

3. A tape dispenser and applicator as defined in claim 1, said mid strip forming the front wall of said frame.

4. A tape dispenser and applicator as defined in claim 1, said mid strip forming the bottom wall of said frame.

5. A tape dispenser and applicator as defined in claim 4, said tongue extending forwardly in an arch over a portion of the bottom of said frame between said side walls and curving into the applicator surface portion under the front corner of said frame, and folded ears extending inwardly from said side walls over said applicator surface portion to serve as stop means therefor when operating pressure is applied to said dispenser.

6. A tape dispenser and applicator as defined in claim 5, said tongue having a flap cut out of it and turned upwardly in extension of the rear of said applicator surface portion for guiding the tape thereto from said roll.

7. A tape dispenser and applicator as defined in claim 6, said structure extending from the sides of said out out tongue portion under a reduced base portion of said flap which is bent away from said structure when operating tension is applied to the tape to release it for free disensing.

8. A tape dispenser and applicator as defined in claim 6, said structure comprising bent ears extending from the bottoms of the opposite side walls against which said rear of said applicator surface is normally gently biased.

9. A tape dispenser and applicator as defined in claim 1, said cutter edge being formed at the end of said tongue.

10. A tape dispenser and applicator as defined in claim 9, said tongue being bent back, its lower end formed like a hook to form said applicator surface on the bottom, the cutter edge being extended forwardly at a suitable cutting angle, and inwardly bent ears extending from the front corners of said side walls to form stop means limiting the resilient operative movement of said tongue.

11. A tape dispenser and applicator as defined in claim 1, said cutter edge being formed at the lower end of a cut out flap from the base end of said tongue.

12. A tape dispenser and applicator as defined in claim 11, the tongue strips on opposite sides of said flap providing a more resilient portion of said tongue which is bent back and then down and forwardly to form the applicator surface portion at the lower end back of said cutter edge at the end of the flap.

13. A tape dispenser and applicator as defined in claim 11, the tongue strips at opposite sides of said flap providing a more resilient portion of said tongue extending down to the rear of said cutter edge and then forming the applicator surface portion and extending backwardly and upwardly past said structure.

14. A tape dispenser and applicatoras defined in claim 13, said structure comprising ears bent inwardly from the lower ends of said side walls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

